ARTICLES ABOUT PARAMOUNT AIRWAYS BY DATE - PAGE 3

KOLKATA: Paramount Airways has decided to introduce a second daily service from Chennai to Kolkata from May 14, 2009, following the high demand for its recently launched Kolkata flight. The new daily service will offer increased flexibility and convenience, making it ideal for business travellers. The service will offer connections to Coimbatore, Madurai, Hyderabad, Cochin, Pune, Ahmedabad and Goa. In a media statement issued on Monday, Paramount Airways managing director M Thiagarajan said, "In less than a month of operating our maiden flight to Kolkata, we are extending our services so swiftly.

MUMBAI: The Coimbatore-based Paramount Airways, the country's only fully business class airline, has decided to hire 80 foreign pilots over the next one year to meet the shortage of skilled local pilots. Paramount will also recruit 200 local pilots in the current year in a staggered manner. The company's existing 100-pilot-strong team already comprises 40% expats. The new foreign pilots are likely to get packages of around Rs 3.5 lakh per month, including an accommodation allowance.

The first move by the gentleman behind Paramount Airways was a shrewd one. Considering Thiagrajan of the textile company of the same name is a hobby pilot himself, it came as no surprise as he immediately surmised that using Embraer jets for an airline instead of the usual Boeing and Airbus would save around 18 per cent of fuel costs. To add further raise barriers to factors that erode profitability, Thiagrajan decided to stick to the South of India in offering the services of Paramount Airways.

MUMBAI: Paramount Airways, the country's only full business class airline, is close to signing contracts worth Rs 4,000 crore with Boeing and Airbus. It has decided to order 10 new fleet ? A330 and A350 from Airbus, and B777 and B787 from Boeing ? for its proposed overseas operations, a person close to the development said. He said Paramount will pay in instalment to take delivery of these aircraft within 18 months of placing orders. When contacted, Paramount MD M Thiagarajan told ET: "I cannot reveal anything now, but we are finalising deals with two foreign aircraft makers for acquisition of fleet.

NEW DELHI: The country's only full business class airline, Paramount Airways, is seriously evaluating plans to launch international services in two years and has begun talks with aircraft manufacturers to acquire long-range aircraft. The Coimbatore-based airline had also held discussions with several major international airport operators who were trying to woo the carrier to begin operations from their respective airports. "We will fly international...but at the right time.

CHENNAI: The city-based Paramount Airways is set to launch its operations in the Chennai-Kolkata sector by the end of this month. Paramount Airways Managing Director Thiagarajan recently met West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and discussed its proposal to make Kolkata as its gateway to northeastern operations, a release here said. The airline would launch operations of daily flights in the Chennai-Kolkata route connecting Guwahati and Agartala by the last week of April, a Paramount Airways official told PTI. The flight from Chennai would take off at 7:05 am and arrive Kolkata at 9.10am and from there proceed to Guwahati and Agartala.

NEW DELHI: Half-a-dozen new regional airlines are expected to start operations this year, despite a majority of the existing companies recording a combined loss of over Rs 10,000 crore. Star Aviation, Zav Airways, King Airways, Sky King Aviation, Premier Airways and a cargo carrier have received permission to import aircraft and start operations in the country. Chennai-based Star Aviation, promoted by Dubai-based real estate company ETA Star, is likely to be the first to fly. It will start operations in June with three Embraer 72-seater aircraft initially and provide connectivity to tier-II cities, mostly in south India.

MUMBAI: Chennai-based Paramount Airways is likely to form tie-ups with two foreign airlines in order to attain the required size to fly abroad. The move will also help Paramount to offer an integrated service to international travellers visiting India. According to the present regulations, airlines need to complete five years in the domestic market and also have a minimum fleet size of 20 aircraft to be eligible to fly in international routes. Paramount is currently talking to four airlines, including Singapore Airlines, Lufthansa, Qatar and Thai Airways, and expects to close a deal in the current quarter, sources close to the development said.

MUMBAI: Coimbatore-based business-class airline, Paramount Airways, is in advanced stages of discussion to buy back a 5% stake held in the company. A substantial part of the stake is held by Kotak Mahindra group's private equity arm, India Growth Fund. It is gathered that the deal will be announced in a few weeks, according to a source closely involved with the development. Analysts peg Paramount's valuation at $200 million, placing the 5% holding at $10 million. "The buyback is likely to be funded through Paramount's group companies," said the source.

MUMBAI: Chennai-based Paramount Airways is likely to form tie-ups with two foreign airlines in order to attain the required size to fly abroad. The move will also help Paramount to offer an integrated service to international travellers visiting India. According to the present regulations, airlines need to complete five years in the domestic market and also have a minimum fleet size of 20 aircraft to be eligible to fly in international routes. Paramount is currently talking to four airlines, including Singapore Airlines, Lufthansa, Qatar and Thai Airways, and expects to close a deal in the current quarter, sources close to the development said.